COLUMBUS, Ohio – A little easier grip on the stick for the Washington Capitals after their Game 3 win Tuesday night.
The tight grip was evident much of the match as the Caps trailed the Blue Jackets 2-0 in the series.
Lars Eller scored midway through the second overtime to give the Caps a 3-2 win and 
get back in the series with their fist.
“We’re fortunate the puck went in for us. We got a bounce. We got some good fortune but we also executed. We had a complete effort, and they did on their side,” Caps head coach Barry Trotz said after the win.
All three games so fay have needed extra time.
“It was a real ugly OT winner goal. I had a feeling it was going be one of those,” Eller said. “It doesn’t make the win less sweet.”
Braden Holtby got the start and made 33 saves to pick up the win.
“It puts us right back in the series,” Holtby said. “I thought we held our composure really well in the overtimes. We didn’t cheat. We stuck to our systems and got a gritty goal to win it. It’s a good sign.”
Artemi Panarin made overtime necessary when he tied the game 2-2 early in the third period.
Tom Wilson and John Carlson struck in the middle frame to give the Caps a 2-1 lead heading to the third period.
Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for the Jackets.
“I’m not [going} to pick apart the team. I thought we played better than the last game. We won the last game. It’s the NHL. It’s playoff hockey, it’s a strange animal,” Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella said after the loss.
[WATCH: All Capitals vs. Blue Jackets highlights | Complete Capitals vs. Blue Jackets series coverage]
Sergei Bobrovsky made 42 saves and had an assist in the game.
“We’ll be fine,” Zach Werenski said. “It’s a seven-game series. We’re not going to win or lose it in one game.”
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